PERFORMANCEThe Chakra 95 is, hands-down, the most stable in this group, feeling much more like an 105L in terms of float – but not outline. It’s perhaps unsurprisingly then exceptionally early to plane too, a truly efficient ‘lazy’ sailing board that demands very little effort to get going.

The width up front also gives a pronounced forward, secure stance for float and ride and low wind transitions, although we did find larger riders needed more powerful sails to drive that girth. We loved the comfy, wide ProLimit (buckle on top) straps that are also easy to adjust on-the-fly.

Considering the huge fin area there’s little drag and the Chakra tracked upwind well – also helped by the markedly sharp rails that continue forward towards the track. We didn’t try it in single-fin mode but the board never felt overly lifty or planted.

On the wave, especially in the largely onshore slop we had, it’s really settled and smooth and capable of both tight and more drawn-out turns, while carrying good momentum in the slack spots.

Perhaps the best feature regarding riding is the thin rails in the tail, with this 95 capable of carving arcs of a much smaller board without losing speed. Linking more than one or two turns in super onshore, quick-to-close-out waves is a challenge but the impetus and speed the Chakra gives is highly rewarding.

THE VERDICTA super-easy-to-sail, early-planing and rewarding board all-round that could easily replace a larger volume model for FSW or onshore wave use.